The Women’s Cluster under the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) brings together civil society organisations in Zimbabwe committed to advancing women’s rights, gender equality, and inclusive development. The cluster provides a coordinated platform for organisations working to address systemic barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in social, economic, and political life.
Zimbabwe has made notable progress in strengthening the legal and policy environment for women’s rights, including provisions within the Constitution and laws addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV). However, in the current socio-economic context, many women—particularly at the grassroots level—continue to face challenges such as domestic violence, limited access to justice, and low awareness of their legal rights. This gap highlights the need for intensified legal literacy, community awareness, and access to support services.
The Women’s Cluster also addresses the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership and decision-making processes across public institutions, the private sector, and political spaces. Despite existing frameworks, women’s participation in governance remains limited, underscoring the need for inclusive policies, affirmative action measures, and strengthened advocacy efforts.
Economic empowerment remains a key priority, as many women in Zimbabwe continue to face structural inequalities in accessing and controlling productive resources such as land, finance, markets, and technology. These barriers are further exacerbated by economic instability, limiting opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and financial independence.
In response, the Women’s Cluster provides a collaborative platform for NGOs and women-focused organisations to align strategies, share knowledge, and implement high-impact, gender-responsive programmes. Key focus areas include:
The cluster plays a critical advocacy role in promoting gender-responsive policies in Zimbabwe, including supporting the effective implementation of affirmative action measures such as quota systems to increase women’s representation in leadership and decision-making spaces.
Through coordinated action, capacity strengthening, and sustained engagement, the Women’s Cluster contributes to building a just, inclusive, and equitable society, where women’s rights are fully realised, their voices are amplified, and their contributions to Zimbabwe’s sustainable development are recognised and valued.
The Children’s Cluster under the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) brings together civil society organisations in Zimbabwe dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the rights and well-being of children. Anchored in a rights-based and child-centred approach, the cluster works to ensure that every child in Zimbabwe has access to a safe, nurturing, and enabling environment in which to grow, learn, and thrive.
In the current Zimbabwean context, children—particularly those in vulnerable communities—continue to face significant barriers to quality education, healthcare, and social protection. Economic challenges and constrained public resources have impacted access to schooling, contributing to school dropouts, child labour, and increased exposure to abuse and exploitation. Limited educational access not only affects children’s immediate well-being but also undermines long-term human capital development and socio-economic mobility.
The Children’s Cluster also responds to emerging risks in an increasingly digital society. While technology has improved access to information and learning opportunities, it has also exposed children to online safety risks, including inappropriate content and exploitation. These dynamics have contributed to concerns such as teenage pregnancies, early sexual debut, and peer-related abuse, reinforcing the need for strengthened child protection systems in both physical and digital spaces.
In addition, harmful cultural, traditional, and religious practices continue to affect children’s rights in some communities. Issues such as child marriage, gender discrimination, and restricted access to education and healthcare—particularly for girls—remain critical areas requiring sustained advocacy and community engagement.
The cluster also recognises shifting family and community structures in Zimbabwe. The weakening of traditional safety nets, including the extended family system, has contributed to increased cases of child neglect, abuse, abandonment, and child-headed households. These challenges are often compounded by domestic violence and complex family dynamics, further heightening children’s vulnerability.
In response, the Children’s Cluster provides a coordinated platform for NGOs and child-focused organisations to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and implement integrated, evidence-based interventions. Key focus areas include:
The cluster places strong emphasis on advocacy and policy influence, working with government and stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of child protection laws and policies in Zimbabwe, and to ensure adequate resource allocation for child-focused services.
Through collaboration, capacity building, and community-driven approaches, the Children’s Cluster contributes to building a protective, inclusive, and rights-respecting environment for all children in Zimbabwe, ensuring that no child is left behind and that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The Health Cluster under the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) brings together civil society organisations in Zimbabwe working to improve health outcomes and strengthen community resilience. Within Zimbabwe’s current context—characterised by economic pressures, constrained public health resources, and evolving disease burdens—the cluster plays a critical role in coordinating NGO-led health interventions and supporting community-based responses.
Zimbabwe continues to face a dual burden of disease, with ongoing priorities such as HIV prevention, treatment, and care, alongside a growing rise in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. In addition, the health sector remains vulnerable to public health emergencies, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as periodic outbreaks of other infectious diseases.
In response, the Health Cluster provides a collaborative platform for NGOs and health-focused organisations to strengthen coordination, share knowledge, and implement evidence-based, high-impact health programmes. Key focus areas include:
The cluster prioritises inclusive and equitable healthcare access, ensuring that interventions respond to the needs of vulnerable and at-risk populations. These include women, children, orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), persons with disabilities, and key populations such as sex workers. A holistic and integrated approach is adopted, linking health services with psychosocial support, human rights, education, and economic empowerment.
In line with best practice, the Health Cluster promotes evidence-based programming and community-driven interventions, encouraging member organisations to conduct needs assessments and data-informed planning. This ensures that programmes are relevant, sustainable, and responsive to local realities.
The cluster also plays a vital advocacy role in Zimbabwe’s health sector, engaging policymakers and stakeholders to promote increased investment in healthcare, stronger health systems, and inclusive health policies.
Through strengthened coordination, capacity building, and strategic advocacy, the Health Cluster contributes to building a resilient, inclusive, and equitable health system in Zimbabwe, advancing the broader goal of sustainable development and improved quality of life for all.
The Youth Cluster under the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) brings together civil society organisations in Zimbabwe working to address the evolving needs, challenges, and opportunities facing young people. In a rapidly changing socio-economic environment marked by high youth unemployment, economic instability, and limited formal job opportunities, the cluster plays a critical role in coordinating and strengthening youth-focused interventions.
In Zimbabwe today, a significant proportion of the population is made up of young people, many of whom are navigating barriers to decent work, access to quality education, and meaningful participation in governance and development processes. These challenges have contributed to increased vulnerability to drug and substance abuse, irregular migration, mental health pressures, and exposure to political and social exclusion.
Within this context, the Youth Cluster provides a collaborative and strategic platform for NGOs and youth-serving organisations to harmonise efforts, minimise fragmentation, and promote collective impact. The cluster supports:
In addition, the cluster plays a key advocacy and policy influence role, engaging with government and stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of Zimbabwe’s youth development frameworks and policies. This includes advocating for increased investment in youth programmes, inclusive policy processes, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Through enhanced coordination, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based advocacy, the Youth Cluster contributes to positioning young people not merely as beneficiaries but as active agents of transformation, driving sustainable development, innovation, and social transformation in Zimbabwe.